Arts and Culture⁹

Community satisfaction with arts and cultural services increased gradually between 2013 and 2015. In 2016, there was a slight decrease in overall satisfaction rating, from 6.89 to 6.17. Following that year, average satisfaction has steadily increased. The latest survey, in 2019, sees the highest community satisfaction with arts and cultural services since measurement began.

Community satisfaction with arts and cultural services, 2013 to 2019

Physical Wellbeing¹⁰

The proportion of adults engaging in sufficient amounts of physical activity each week was lower in Wyndham than the Western region and Victoria. In 2017, 38.6% of Wyndham adults engaged in the recommended amount of physical activity each week, compared to 48.5% of adults in the Western region and 50.9% of adults Victoria wide.

Percentage of adults that engage in sufficient amount of physical activity each week, Wyndham, Western Melbourne and Victoria, 2017

In addition to lower physical activity rates, Wyndham adults also eat fewer vegetables than Victorians on average: 1.9 portions per day compared with 2.2 in Victoria, while the recommended daily intake is five serves.

As follows, obesity rates in Wyndham are higher than in Victoria as well: 25% compared with 19.3% in Victoria.

Childhood Immunisation¹¹

There are a slightly smaller proportion of immunised children in Wyndham compared to Victoria across all age groups.    

Proportion of fully immunised Children, 2015

Substance Abuse¹²

Just under half the adult population of Wyndham (49.2%) face an increased risk of alcohol-related harm due to drinking behaviour, compared to 54.6% of adults in the Western region and 59.5% of adults Victoria wide.

Lifetime risk of alcohol-related harm in adults, Wyndham, Western Melbourne and Victoria, 2017

Similar to rates across Victoria, around 15% of Wyndham adults smoke. Smoking rates in Western Melbourne are lower at 10.5%.

Proportion of adults who are daily smokers, Wyndham, Western Melbourne and Vcitoria, 2017

Mental Health¹³

The lifetime prevalence of depression and anxiety amongst adults in Wyndham has increased between 2011 and 2017. In 2017, 24.6% of Wyndham adults had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety compared to 18.9% of adults in 2011. The rate of depression and anxiety in Wyndham was slightly lower than in Victoria in 2011 and 2014. The gap has since widened, with the rate in Victoria at 27.4% in 2017.

Lifetime prevalence of depression and anxiety, Wyndham, Western Melbourne and Victoria, 2011-2017

Electronic Gaming Machines¹⁴

In 2019, there are approximately 4.6 Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) per 1,000 adults in Wyndham, down from 4.9 in 2018. The 2019 number is higher than or equal to that in other growth areas (Melton, Casey, Cardinia and Whittlesea), and lower than in Hume. All growth councils have seen decreases between 2018 and 2019, all driven by population growth rather than a decrease in EGM numbers.

Number of electronic gaming machines per 1,000 adults, 2018 and 2019

Crime and Safety

Wyndham residents’ overall perception of safety in public areas has decreased since 2015. In 2017, residents rated public safety in Wyndham as 7.94 out of 10, down marginally from 2015 (8.37). In 2018 the perception of safety has decreased marginally to 7.88, followed by another small decline in 2019 with a score of 7.85.¹⁵  

Wyndham residents' perception of safety in public areas of Wyndham during the day, 2014 to 2019

Family violence is a serious issue in Wyndham. In the year ending December 2019, the family violence incident rate in Wyndham was the lowest of all other growth areas across Greater Melbourne. In addition, Wyndham's family violence rate increased by 2.5%, which is lower than in Melton (10.5%), Hume (6.6%) and Cardinia (18.5%).¹⁶ 

Recorded incidents of family violence in Wyndham and other growth Councils per 100,000 population, year ending December 2019

Infrastructure and housing diversity

Community satisfaction with the condition of sealed local roads was higher in Wyndham than the state average. In 2017-18, the satisfaction rating in Wyndham was 64 out of 100, compared to an average of 55 out of 100 at other Councils in Victoria.. Council's performance has gone up again in 2018-19 with resident satisfaction now at 6.96. No data on other Victorian Councils for 2018-19 is available yet.¹⁷

Council performance on the condition of sealed local roads, 2014 to 2019

With a much higher percentage of separate houses (83%) compared to Greater Melbourne (66%) and Victoria (72%), there is significantly less housing diversity in Wyndham.¹⁸

Percentage of various dwelling structures, 2016

Environment

A lower proportion of waste from kerbside bins in Wyndham is diverted from landfill compared to other areas across Victoria. On average, nearly half of all waste collected from kerbside bins in Council areas similar to Wyndham is diverted from landfill, while only 36% of waste is diverted from Wyndham bins. Furthermore, the average proportion of diverted waste across all Victorian Councils is greater than the amount diverted in Wyndham. Wyndham's performance in 2018-19 has decreased from 2017-18.¹⁹

Percentage of garbage, recyclables and green organics collected from kerbside bins that is diverted from landfill, 2014/15 to 2018/19

Wyndham Council’s annual greenhouse gas emissions have decreased from 2017/18 levels, and are well below the 2015/16 peak. Even though Council experienced significant growth, greenhouse gas emissions from Wyndham City Council’s operations decreased by 7.7% or 1,815 tonnes in 2018/2019. This has been achieved mainly through the bulk changeover to energy efficient streetlights and the installation of solar panels at civic centre. This reflects Council’s resolve to realise its 2020 greenhouse reduction target of 12%.²⁰

Council's annual greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes CO₂), 2014/15 to 2018/19

According to the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), the City of Wyndham has the greatest potential for increased tree canopy coverage due to its large expanses of grass-bare ground cover. In their 2015 report, the ISF determined that approximately 3.1% of the area of Wyndham was covered by tree canopy. Compared to other growth areas, such as Cardinia (32%) and Whittlesea (19%), there is significantly less tree canopy coverage in Wyndham.²¹

Percentage of LGA with tree canopy, 2015

Much of Wyndham City is covered by endangered grassland that is unsuitable for tree planting and never naturally grew many trees. For these reasons, it is appropriate to use the area inside the urban growth boundary to estimate urban tree cover. The table below shows the urban tree coverage area within the 2010 urban growth boundary, derived from unpublished data using a similar methodology as the original study.²²

Urban tree coverage area within the 2010 urban growth boundary

Commuting

The proportion of Wyndham workers travelling 90 minutes or more to and from work increased significantly between 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, 15% of Wyndham households reported that at least 1 member of the household travelled 90+ minutes to and from work each day, this increased by over 10% in only 12 months to 26% in 2016. From 2016 to 2017, there was a considerable decline in the proportion of households where at least one member travels over 90 minutes to and from work. In 2018 just over 20% of households indicate that at least one member of the household commutes for 90 minutes or more - above the 2017 value but still well below the 2016 survey's finding. The 2019 result - 18% of households indicating commutes of 90 minutes or more - suggests the 2016 result was an exception.²³

Proportion of Wyndham residents that take 90 minutes or more to travel to and from work, 2014 to 2019

Car as driver is the most popular method of travel to work amongst all Victorian employees. In Wyndham, nearly two thirds of employees drive their car to work, compared to 61% of employees across Greater Melbourne and 62% Victoria wide.

A similar proportion of employees in Wyndham and the Western Region use public transport (train and bus) to travel to work. In Wyndham and across Victoria, train travel is more common than bus travel.²⁴

Percentage of workers using public transport to commute on Census day, 2016

The percentage of Wyndham residents who believe public transport is an issue for Council to address has steadily decreased between 2013 and 2017, and has been increasing again since. In 2017 6.9% of residents believed transport was a key issue (compared with 16.1% in 2013). In 2019, the figure has increased to 7.9%. The opening of the Regional Rail Link stations at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale in 2015 increased Wyndham residents’ access to public transport, and has likely impacted the declining trend. It is possible that the increase in public transport commuters and crowded trains now affect people's attitudes towards the importance of more public transport.²⁵

Percentage of residents that believe public transport is an issue for Council to address in the next 12 months, 2013 to 2019

Library Services

The number of adults participating in learning and skills programs at Wyndham libraries increased markedly between 2015/16 and 2016/17, and is up again in 2018/19 with respect to 2017/18.¹ The large increase between 2015/16 and 2016/17 can be explained by an additional adult programs officer joining the team and running additional programs throughout the year. Between 2016/17 and 2017/18 there was a slight decline in participation which could be due to two libraries closing for renovations. With those in the process of reopening, the increase from 2017/18 to 2018/19 is expected to continue in the next financial year.

Community satisfaction with local library services has steadily increased from 2013 to 2015, before declining marginally to 8.53 in 2017 and returning to a second highest score in the last five years of 8.6 in 2018. From 2015 onwards, satisfaction with library services has hovered between 8.5 and 8.6.²

Number of Adults Participating in Learning and Skills Programs Offered at Wyndham Libraries, 2013/14 to 2018/19

Satisfaction with local library services, 2013 to 2019

Jobs and Economy³

Between 2017-18 and 2018-19, the growth of local employment in Wyndham exceeded growth in all other growth areas, and was twice the Victorian rate of growth. There are now 83,596 jobs in Wyndham - only marginally less than in Casey (84,662) which has 85,000 more residents.

Percentage change in number of local jobs, 2017-18 to 2018-19

Gross Regional Product and percentage contribution to Victorian Gross Domestic Product, 2019

In 2018, Wyndham had the second largest Gross Regional Product (GRP) of all growth areas in Victoria, second only to Hume. Wyndham’s GRP contributed 2.4% towards Victoria’s Gross State Product.

Education⁴

Compared to Victoria and Greater Melbourne, Wyndham has the highest proportion of disengaged youth. In 2016, almost 12% of 15 to 25 year olds from Wyndham were not studying and not employed.

Percentage of 15 to 25 year olds not engaged at all in work or Study, 2016

The percentage of adults from Wyndham attending University or TAFE is lower (8%) than the percentage across Greater Melbourne (10%) and Victoria (9%).

Percentage adult population attending university or TAFE (18+ years), 2016

Council Performance⁵

Community satisfaction with Council’s performance in representation, lobbying and advocacy rose steadily from 2013 to 2015, before decreasing in 2016 to a rating of 6.28 out of 10. Community satisfaction with Council performance in this area is back on the rise again: a small decrease between 2016 and 2017 (from 6.51 to 6.57) has now been followed with a larger jump to 6.79 in 2018, reaching 6.84 in 2019. Satisfaction with community consultation and engagement has followed a similar trend, though the increase from 2016 to 2018 has been more gradual. In 2018, community satisfaction in this area is 6.67. The jump in 2019 - to 7.17 - indicates the community's increasing happiness with how Council consults and engages with the community.

Council's performance in community consultation, engagement and lobbying on behalf of the community, 2013 to 2019

Community satisfaction with Council performance across all areas of responsibility, as well as Council performance in maintaining the trust and confidence of the local community, have followed a similar trend in the past 5 years.

Between 2013 and 2015, there were marginal increases in satisfaction, before falling by around half a rating point each in 2016. Slight increases in satisfaction were observed from 2016 to 2017 for each measure, and in 2018 overall satisfaction is at 6.84, and satisfaction with maintaining the trust and confidence of the local community is at 6.71. The growth trends since 2016 have continued, with community satisfaction with overall performance now at a 6.93, and satisfaction with Council maintaining the trust and confidence of the local community at a 7.05.

Community satisfaction with Council across all areas of responsibility, and its ability to maintain trust and confidence in the community, 2013 to 2019

Participation

In 2014, Wyndham had the smallest proportion of adults participating in all types of organised community groups, compared to the North West Metro and Victoria.⁶ The largest difference can be seen in professional group participation, where 17% of Wyndham adults belonged to a group, compared to 23% and 24% of adults are in the North West Metro area and Victoria respectively.

Proportion of adults who belong to an organised community group (sports, religious, school, professional, other), 2014

A high or very high level of social isolation in adulthood is slightly more common in Wyndham than other areas of Victoria.⁷ In 2014, 20% of Wyndham adults were socially isolated, compared to 19% of adults in the North West Metro area and 17% Victoria wide.

Percentage of adults experiencing high or very high levels of social isolation, 2014 

Compared to other growth councils (except Whittlesea) and Victoria, a smaller proportion of Wyndham adults volunteer.⁸ In 2017, 15.8% of adults in Wyndham regularly volunteer, compared to 20% of adults in Victoria.

Percentage of the population (15 years +) who volunteer regularly, 2017